William Fermor

Count William Fermor ( or Villim Villimovich Fermor) was an Imperial Russian Army officer best known for leading his country’s army at the Battle of Zorndorf during the Seven Years’ War. His name is sometimes styled Wilhelm Graf von Fermor. Early life Fermor was born in 1702 in Pskov, Russia, of Scottish and Lutheran Baltic German descent. He joined the Russian army in 1720 and distinguished himself at the Siege of Danzig during the War of the Polish Succession. He later saw action against the Ottoman Empire and the Finns. He preferred to associate mostly with other Germans in the service of Russia, something which caused resentment among Russian-speaking officers. He was a protégé of Burkhard Christoph von Münnich. Seven Years’ War In 1757 Fermor led a Russian force that captured Memel in East Prussia and was present at the Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf.